Activity Report: Benin

Nutritional improvement

Nutritional condition of 65 children were improve.

The mothers gave several positive responses, which included, “Compared to before, children don’t get sick as easily.”

13 September 2011

In the village of Gbeto which has a population of 8000, the ratio of children living in malnutrition is 7 to 1. A proper understanding of the dietary needs has been lacking. From January 2010, under the guidance of nutritionists, 20 local people formed a group to spread nutritional awareness throughout the region.

First, these people made rounds to homes in the area. They identified 65 malnourished children ages 0 to 5. After that, from April, every month for two to three months, they got together for a full day with the mothers of the children targeted. They proposed an improved menu of three meals a day, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and also one snack. As for the intervals between meals, they instructed the mothers on how to set up a schedule for nutritionally balanced diet, and taught them the role of food needed to wean infants off of breast milk, and also methods for managing household nutrition. The mothers gave several positive responses, which included, “Compared to before, children don’t get sick as easily.” and “The children’s skin has become glossy”. Due to the positive impact from this transformation, through the word or mouth, almost all of the physical measurements taken of the children show that they have recovered to weights and heights normal for children of their age.

In April of 2011, a health examination was conducted, and, for now, confirmation of the children’s recovery of from malnutrition has been completed. From May, other children from this area suffering from malnourishment have been identified, and, similarly, improved nutrition is now being carried out.

Local residents are cooking an improved menu.

Almost all of the physical measurements taken of the children show that they have recovered to weights and heights